The two Esplanadis, their side streets and the area around Senate Square will be closed to vehicle traffic on 30 April from 15.00 to 21.00 for the capping of the Manta statue. Driving a private car in Helsinki city centre is not recommended on May Day Eve or May Day.
The Havis Amanda statue will be crowned with a student cap on 30 April at 18:00, near the Market Square.
The crowning of the Manta statue can also be easily watched on large screens at Market Square and in Esplanadi Park.
The May Day Eve celebrations attract a large crowd each year, so we recommend leaving your bicycles and e-scooters outside the event area.
Families with small children are invited to safely watch a livestream of the capping ceremony at the University of Helsinki's Think Corner (Tiedekulma), just a few blocks away from the main event.
The SAK May Day parade will affect traffic on 1 May from approximately 11:00. The parade route is Siltasaarenkatu – Unioninkatu – Pohjoisesplanadi – Mannerheimintie – Kansalaistori.
"The police will maintain a visible presence to ensure the smooth running of May Day celebrations and traditional events in Helsinki. A visible police presence helps to reduce public order disturbances and, above all, offences against life and health," says Chief Superintendent Hanna Kiiskinen.
For further information on traffic arrangements, please refer to the City of Helsinki's announcement: May Day Eve celebrated at Havis Amanda Square – tips for May Day in Helsinki | City of Helsinki.
Knives and fireworks have no place at May Day celebrations
May Day celebrations will take place this coming weekend, and young people will once again gather in parks to mark the occasion. The police will be out on May Day to ensure that festivities proceed safely.
“Parents and guardians should check their children’s backpacks before they go out and party. Bladed weapons and fireworks should not be brought to celebrations. In addition, minors should not have alcohol or other intoxicants in their possession. Unfortunately, setting off fireworks has become much more common in recent years, and they have led to serious incidents, including explosions in crowded areas," notes Chief Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen, head of the Helsinki Police Department’s enforcement unit.
On May Day Eve last year, the police began clearing Kaivopuisto Park shortly after 10 pm, as the number of disturbances in the park began to rise, and there were many intoxicated young people in the area. Everyone who is out celebrating should be aware that the park will be cleared before dark again this year for reasons of public order and safety.
On May Day lots of people will be out and about — not just police officers, but other responsible adults as well.
"The main objective of youth work during the festivities is to ensure that there are safe and responsible adults on the streets to interact with young people, be present, and offer help when needed," says Mikko Vatka, Director of Youth Affairs for the City of Helsinki.
The police have no specific indications that young people are carrying knives more often than before. Instead, there is a sense that if a person is carrying a knife, their threshold for using it could be very low.
“If young people get into a fight and one of them happens to have a knife with them, they might use it without giving the consequences a second thought. The police consider this a very worrying trend. Bladed weapons should absolutely be left at home, so that nothing irreversible can come to pass,” Kiiskinen emphasises.
